Breeders Crown journey begins

The 2014 Breeders Crown series kicks off tomorrow night at Port Pirie with the running of the Alabar Breeders Crown 2YO Fillies Heat 1 and the Roll With Joe Breeders Crown 3YO Colts and Geldings Heat 1.

Five fillies will battle it out followed by six colts and geldings in the last two races on the card at the South Australian track, with the ultimate goal a spot in the rich Breeders Crown finals on August 24 at Melton’s Tabcorp Park.

Following Port Pirie, fillies heats will be run at Albion Park in Queensland (July 1), Cambridge and Addington in New Zealand (July 10 and 11), Launceston in Tasmania (July 13), Menangle in New South Wales (July 22), Ballarat in Victoria (July 26) and Gloucester Park in Western Australia on July 28.

The series repechages will he held on August 6 at Geelong before semi-finals are contested at Ballarat’s Bray Raceway on August 16. The consolation finals for the fillies will be run and won on August 22.

The 3YO colts and geldings’ heats will head to Hobart in Tasmania on July 14, Auckland and Addington in New Zealand on July 18, Menangle on July 22, Albion Park on July 25, Gloucester Park on July 28 and Bendigo on July 31. The colts and geldings repechages will be run at Kilmore on August 7, with semi-finals on the same program as the fillies on August 16 at Ballarat, while the consolation races will be held on August 21 at Tabcorp Park.

In the fillies’ first heat, Theeyeshaveit, Helens Bonus, Jasperama, Call Her Julie and Secret Agenda will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of former 2YO fillies’ Breeders Crown champions including Whereibylong (2013), Glenferrie Shuffle (2012), Cowgirls N Indians (2011) and Passions Promise (2010).

The 3YO colts and geldings’ first heat consists of Fivehundredbart, Vaevenca, Kenneth The Menace, Glenferrie Affair, Kingsup and Major Crocker.

Champion reinsman Gavin Lang has an extraordinary record in the 2YO fillies’ division finals, having driven four of the last six winners, and five overall since the inaugural Crown final back in 1998.

In the 3YO colts and geldings the Kiwis have won the last two finals, with Bit Of A Legend saluting for Dexter Dunn last year and Fly Like An Eagle prevailing for Mark Purdon in 2012.